Polyurea coatings for golf equipment

Abstract

A polyurea-based curable coating for use with sports equipment, such as golf balls, golf shoes, golf clubs, footballs, billiard balls, baseballs, and the like, of which the coating may be cured over time, with heat, or a combination thereof, providing enhanced adhesion to equipment surfaces, improved abrasion resistance, and increased water resistance.

1. A method of coating golf equipment comprising the steps of:
 providing an amine-terminated component; 
 wherein the amine-terminated component comprises amine terminated polybutadiene; 
 providing an isocyanate; 
 reacting the amine-terminated component and the isocyanate to form a reaction product comprising polyurea linkages; 
 applying the coating composition to the golf equipment; and 
 curing the coating composition at a temperature of 60° C. or lower; 
 wherein the coating has a dry film thickness of about 0.1 mils to about 1 mils. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of curing further comprises subjecting the coating composition to the temperature of 60° C. or lower for a period of about 5 minutes to about 60 minutes. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amine-terminated component comprises a hydrophobic backbone. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding at least one an optical brightener, silane coupling agent, catalyst, pigment, filler, wetting agent, solvent, or a combination thereof during the step of reacting. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of reacting further comprises adding a solvent. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the solvent is present in the composition in an amount of about 10 percent to about 35 percent by weight of the coating composition. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amine-terminated component comprises secondary amines. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of curing further comprises subjecting the coating composition to the temperature of 60° C. or lower for a period of about 30 minutes to about 60 minutes. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of curing further comprises subjecting the coating composition to the temperature of 60° C. or lower for a period of about 2 minutes to about 3 minutes. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amine-terminated polybutadiene comprises primary amines, secondary amines, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the amine-terminated component or the iscoyanate are aliphatic. 
     
     
       12. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein a coating layer disposed about the cover is formed of a reaction product consisting essentially of at least one isocyanate and at least one amine-terminated polybutadiene. 
     
     
       13. The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the reaction product has a cure time of about 5 minutes to about 60 minutes. 
     
     
       14. The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the reaction product has a cure time of about 30 minutes to about 60 minutes. 
     
     
       15. The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the reaction product has a cure time of about 2 minutes to about 3 minutes. 
     
     
       16. The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the reaction product has a cure temperature of 60° C. or lower. 
     
     
       17. The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the isocyanate is aliphatic.